What do SAVE Peer Educators do?

Student Anti-Violence Educators have completed a training program that enables them to create positive changes in the TCNJ community by spreading awareness about sexual violence to their peers. In conjunction with Anti-Violence Initiatives, the SAVE Peer Educators are leaders in the primary prevention of sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, and stalking through educational health outreach programs that they plan and facilitate in an effort to make the campus community healthier, safer, and more enjoyable. It’s about friends positively influencing friends.

Yearly Training Program: During Welcome Week, new and veteran SAVE PEs complete 24-hours of training. Participation in the training program is mandatory and provides SAVE PEs with the core training to educate, confront, listen to, and help their peers make healthy lifestyle choices with an effective peer network. The yearly training program not only provides the foundational concepts of the SAVE PE program, but it is also the opportunity for the group of SAVE PEs to bond and get to know one another.

Weekly Meetings: Every Wednesday afternoon the SAVE PEs meet for an hour and a half. These mandatory meetings, led by the SAVE PE Supervisor, provide an opportunity to debrief about recent presentations and plan for upcoming events including Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Green Dot initiatives. Additional SAVE PE training may also take place during weekly meetings.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month & Sexual Assault Awareness Month: SAVE PEs play a critical role in the planning and implementation of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVA Month) in October and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April. SAVE PEs serve as point persons or sub-committee chairs for events and/or programs. SAVE PEs are required to attend the weekly planning committee meetings held Wednesday afternoons before the SAVE PE meeting, and attend awareness raising activities throughout these months.

Program Facilitation: Each semester, SAVE PEs are required to co-facilitate two programs. SAVE PEs are trained to co-facilitate Sexuality 101, Healthy Relationships, and Bystander Intervention during the yearly training program. These programs are presented to athletic teams, campus organizations, residence halls, and classes.

Green Dot Initiatives: Spearheaded by Anti-Violence Initiatives, the SAVE PEs will be the core of the Green Dot Initiative; serving as facilitators for Green Got trainings and leading their peers as Green Dot generators.

Residence Hall Outreach: Each SAVE PE is assigned to mentor 2-3 freshman floors. Unlike CAs, SAVE PE floor mentors do not live in the residence halls with the freshman. Instead, PE floor mentors act as a role model, resource, and referral agent to freshman students.

Group Dynamic: The group size ranges from 15-20 SAVE PEs. Keeping a smaller group ensures a cohesive team. Although SAVE PEs know how to have fun and be playful, they work hard and conduct themselves as role models 24/7.